03/14/2016
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR FERTILITY
About 10 percent of couples struggle with infertility and an inability to conceive, according to the Centers for Disease Control. For those struggling to have children, fertility treatments can become tiring and expensive very quickly. There are numerous alternative treatments including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that have been thought to improve fertility.
ACUPUNCTURE
By increasing blood flow and Qi (vital energy) to the reproductive organs, acupuncture can help increase fertility. Stress has been noted to cause infertility in women due to an increase in the hormone cortisol. A change in hormones can cause the body to be put out of balance, affecting fertility. Acupuncture can help by decreasing stress and returning the body to balance.
Acupuncture fertility treatment has almost no side effects, compared to Western medications and hormone treatments that can cause lasting side effects.
CHINESE HERBS
Women who received Chinese herbal treatments for about three months were found to be twice as likely to become pregnant as women who didn’t receive the treatment, according to a study in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
Chinese herbal therapy uses herbs in groups of about 15 herbs in each treatment. The treatments are made of formulas that include natural ingredients such as bark, root, leaf, flower and plant extracts. These treatments are most commonly given in pill or tea form.
Clinical studies in China have shown that 70 percent of those struggling with fertility who were treated with Chinese herbs have become pregnant.
Ask your local acupuncturist if he or she is a specialist in Chinese fertility and how you can receive Chinese herbal treatments.
TAI-CHI AND YOGA
Tai-chi (Chinese breathing and balance forms) and Yoga (indian poses) are other ways to increase fertility by reducing stress and increasing blood flow, which can help gynecological function.
Breathing practices that are done in tai-chi can help to relax the mind and lower cortisol levels, bringing hormones back to a normal balance.
Some poses and stands in yoga can increase circulation to the reproductive organs.
Simple lifestyle changes can also help boost your fertility including eating a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol, smoking and environmental toxins, and getting sufficient sleep.
Alternative treatments for fertility can be a less expensive, non-invasive option for improving fertility!